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Lakers team sources believe they have the coaching staff required to make Deandre Ayton signing work
For Ayton, who turns 27 at the end of July, the opportunity to re-establish himself couldn’t be more clear. While his contract with the Lakers has a second-year player option, no one involved wants him to exercise it — the hope being that he far outplays that $8 million valuation and commands way more next summer. Team sources believe the Lakers have the right coaching staff to make that happen. In JJ Redick, they have a deadly serious head coach who also understands how to relate to players. Assistant Scott Brooks worked with Ayton in Portland two years ago, and Nate McMillan has either played or coached with or against virtually every personality type the NBA’s ever concocted. And if not, the Lakers have maintained their flexibility for next summer and beyond.
When Dončić returned to L.A. with a bit of a sunburn on his face, it wasn't just from time spent on the beach. Lakers assistant coach Scott Brooks met him in Cabo and they worked out at a private, outdoor court for two hours a day, sources said. Dončić also supplemented the basketball drills by lifting weights in the gym at his hotel. Though Dončić did not publicly comment on the constant flow of leaks from the Mavericks organization disparaging his weight and conditioning, one source close to Dončić told ESPN the comments have served as a motivator. "A beast was awakened inside him," the source said.
Redick says they have both been “perfect fits” because each can offer a different perspective. “I call both of them my spiritual gurus,” Redick said. “They are great with the X’s and O’s stuff — our entire staff is — but I think with them, it’s just … they have seen everything having been in the NBA 35-40 years. There are three or four times a week where I’m like, ‘Hey, did I handle that right? How should I handle this … and what did your teams do when they were going through X, Y, Z?’ They have lived it all.”
The series was tied 2-2, and as Game 5 unfolded, McMillan and Brooks found themselves tangled and locked up with each other on several occasions. In the third quarter, McMillan drove left and tried to lose Brooks on a screen by teammate Derrick McKey. Brooks bounced off McKey and immediately re-engaged with McMillan, touching and bumping him along the way.
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McMillan continued driving and rose toward the basket, his elbow catching Brooks flush on the chin. Brooks responded by lunging at McMillan and grabbing his jersey near the armpits. Brooks pushed McMillan into the basket stanchion.
Over the last 31 years, McMillan said he and Brooks never really talked to each other about their confrontation. Even in the immediate wake of the fight, before Game 6, there was no handshake, no apology, no nothing. And it pretty much stayed that way for three decades. “We didn’t acknowledge that until we coached against each other,” McMillan said. “And even then, we would just kind of nod at each other and smile. But you know, in the back of your mind it’s … that’s the guy …”
Jeanie Buss on JJ Redick hire: We wanted to think in a different way
Jeanie Buss on JJ Redick hire: “We wanted to kind of think a different way. Really, he’s got a vision. I’m not comfortable talking about the basketball stuff, but we were looking for a candidate that would bring something different. And really invest in developing young players. JJ is the right person for us. Again, I just want to work to really speak for itself. So I don’t want to hype it and say it’s gonna be a home run. We have to give him time to establish what he wants to establish. I’m really impressed with his staff. Right now, it’s not mandatory for the players to come in and practice but players are coming in and working out. The coaching staff with Nate McMillan and Scotty Brooks, there’s a lot of experience that will be there for him to make that adjustment to being a head coach. Certainly a 12-year career in the league, he’s got a lot of experience. He knows what this league is about and I think he’ll be a great leader.”
Michael Scotto: The Los Angeles Lakers have officially named Nate McMillan, Scott Brooks, Bob Beyer, Greg St. Jean, Lindsey Harding, and Beau Levesque as assistant coaches on head coach JJ Redick’s staff. The Lakers also added Michael Wexler as head video coordinator. pic.twitter.com/5zo8oT7Qga
Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Bob Beyer is another coach who is expected to be added to Redick’s staff, according to league sources. He’s been in attendance for multiple Lakers summer league games and has sat alongside the coaching staff, including Redick, Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks.
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Lakers hiring Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks as top assistant coaches
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks as top assistant coaches on JJ Redick’s new staff. Redick gets two longtime head coaches with a combined 1,189 victories to surround him. pic.twitter.com/zRtTNlroFp
Assistant coaching candidates for JJ Redick’s staff will include former head coach and recent Trail Blazers assistant Scott Brooks, former Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, ex-Laker and current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley and Cassell, according to league sources.
Additionally, there is the matter of Redick’s coaching staff. Assistant coaching candidates will include Borrego, Cassell, former Laker Rajon Rondo, former Laker and current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley and former head coach and assistant Scott Brooks, according to league sources. If the Lakers hire Redick, they’d prefer to have Borrego and Cassell on Redick’s staff as top assistants, according to those sources. The Los Angeles Times was first to report the assistant coaching candidate names.
Lakers want James Borrego on JJ Redick's staff?
Evan Sidery: The Lakers are hoping to convince James Borrego to join JJ Redick’s staff as a lead assistant, per @jovanbuha (m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wK1Br…). Borrego, Sam Cassell, Scott Brooks, Rajon Rondo and Jared Dudley are all assistant candidates in play to potentially join Redick in LA. pic.twitter.com/2SR0q3KLM9
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